2016 Futurity Stakes Likely for Scissor Kick

Scissor Kick has not been seen at the races since the 2015 Brisbane Winter Carnival, but trainer Paul Messara has revealed the four-year-old has returned to work in excellent condition and has underlined the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 27th as his likely launch pad.

Scissor Kick will likely return to racing in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart

Scissor Kick has been a strong and consistent performer for Messara since storming onto the Australia racing scene in 2014; posting an impressive four wins and two minors through twelve career starts highlighted by two victories at Group 3 level.

Having suffered bone bruising through his luckless winter campaign, Messara told Racing Victoria the Redoute’s Choice entire appears in great order and will continue to lift his training load with a view towards the 2016 Futurity Stakes.

“These horses that have long breaks sometimes they take a bit of time to come back up again so I wanted to give him a jump out with absolutely no pressure so I took him to Balnarring and he had a very easy time to get his head right and get used to racing again,” Messara said.

“Over the next two to three week we’ll start to put a bit of heat on him and see where he’s at but at this stage he’s just had a nice reintroduction to everything.

“Fitness-wise he could get there but I’ve just got to make sure he’s right on the mark.

“With a colt like him that’s had six months off the scene you’ve got to make sure they’re in the right head space.

“I’m not set on any particular race with him, it will just depend on how he comes up but that race is certainly a possibility that’s in the back of my mind.”

Scissor Kick was a standout through the 2014 edition of the Spring Carnival; winning each of the Listed The Rosebud (1200m) and Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) before placing second in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) and Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m).

Returning last year for success over a talented field in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) before placing fifth in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m), Scissor Kick ran an impressive fourth in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) in his only other start prior to the Brisbane winter.

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